than thân
Definition
- Verb:
- To lament one's own fate or circumstances: To express sorrow, regret, or complaint about one's own difficult situation, often with a tone of self-pity or seeking sympathy.
- To bemoan one's lot: To voice discontent or unhappiness regarding one's personal condition or destiny.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy ngồi than thân một mình. (She sat alone lamenting her fate.)
- Anh ấy chỉ biết than thân trách phận. (He could only bemoan his lot and blame his fate.)
- Đừng than thân nữa, hãy hành động đi. (Stop complaining about your situation; take action instead.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in a slightly critical or dismissive way to describe someone who complains excessively about their life without taking proactive steps to improve it.
- It frequently appears in the fixed, four-syllable idiom "than thân trách phận", which means "to lament one's condition and blame one's fate," encapsulating a sense of passive resignation.
Variants and Related Words
- Than vãn (v): to complain, to grumble (more general, not necessarily focused on one's own fate).
- Cô ấy than vãn về công việc. (She complained about her job.)
- Thở than (v): to sigh in sorrow, to lament.
- Ông lão thở than về thời thế. (The old man lamented the times.)
Synonyms
- Bemoan: To express discontent or sorrow over (one's situation).
- Lament: To express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something.
- Complain: To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
Related Idioms
- Than thân trách phận: To lament one's condition and blame one's fate; to bemoan one's lot in life.
- Suốt ngày than thân trách phận chẳng giải quyết được gì. (Bemoaning your lot in life all day solves nothing.)